LOCAL NEWS

Report Finds Officer Displayed, Commented Inappropriately On McCluskey Photos

Aug 5, 2020, 10:12 AM | Updated: 8:37 pm

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Authorities on Wednesday released the findings of an independent investigation into a former officer’s alleged use of evidence in the Lauren McCluskey case.

Miguel Deras, former University of Utah Department of Public Safety officer, was accused of saving extortion photos of Lauren McCluskey to his mobile phone. He was also accused of making inappropriate comments about the photos to a co-worker.

The UUDPS in May announced the Utah Department of Public Safety would conduct an independent investigation.

The investigation found there was no evidence that Deras inappropriately downloaded the explicit photos of McCluskey.

According to the attorney for officer Miguel Deras, the report proves that his client did nothing wrong.

“The report confirms exactly what we stated months ago; that Miguel Deras only showed these photographs during an official investigation, and for a law enforcement purpose,” said J.C. Jensen, who represents Deras. “Our assertion was also proven that he never downloaded them to his phone, he never saved them.”

However, the investigation did find evidence that “a small number of officers inappropriately commented on the photos before, during or immediately after a shift change briefing,” according to a statement from UUDPS Chief Rodney Chatman.

“Although the date cannot be confirmed, at some point after the afore-mentioned briefing, Officer Deras showed the images to three officers (who had already seen the photos),” according to the DPS investigation summary. “… Officers [redacted] told DPS IA they remember this happening in the hallway outside of the conference room where briefings take place. Officers [redacted] remember hearing some unprofessional comments being made when the pictures were displayed.”

“This type of behavior is not acceptable in my department and will not be tolerated,”  Chatman said.

Chatman plans to take action against officers accused of viewing photos outside of the investigation and making comments.

“Behaviors that were articulated in this report are less than professional behavior and anything less than professional behavior falls very short for my expectations. It’s something I take very seriously because I need to have the trust in my officers, and they need to trust me and where trust is broken it’s serious to me,” he said. “We are in the business right now where we are trying to establish trust with our community,”

“While employment actions are confidential, it is important that the university community understands we are pursuing action against individual officers based on the findings in this report,” according to Chatman. “As our new mission statement makes clear: We seek public trust by policing with compassion, integrity and accountability in our daily pursuit of excellence. We nurture public trust by holding ourselves to the highest standards.”

McCluskey was murdered in October 2018 by her ex-boyfriend. Days before her killing, she had reported to the police that he was using the compromising photos to extort her.

McCluskey’s parents released the following statement Wednesday afternoon: “The University of Utah continues to mislead, cover up the facts, and fail to take responsibility for the murder of our daughter. We now call for the University of Utah to redo its incomplete and disingenuous investigation and for an independent review of the facts surrounding Lauren’s murder and the University’s failure to respond to her pleas for help.”

Read the Utah Department of Public Safety’s summary report here.

The Logan Police Department also released a statement on the investigation.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Matt Gephardt working with Bona Rose on the CarChex documents....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

Get Gephardt: West Valley woman says her extended car warranty claim was denied unfairly

Many drivers buy an extended auto warranty to cover unexpected repair bills. But when a West Valley City woman turned to her warranty provider for major help on her car's transmission, they turned her down - repeatedly.

2 hours ago

Moments before a Salt Lake City woman is hit by a white car in the Avenues....

Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio, Garna Mejia and Michael Houck, KSL TV

Doorbell camera captures another hit-and-run in Salt Lake City

New doorbell camera shows bystanders rushing to save a woman who may be another victim of an alleged serial hit-and-runner.

3 hours ago

A view of the West Temple and 200 South intersection in Salt Lake City....

Michael Houck

A major downtown Salt Lake City intersection will close from April to May

Starting April 1, the West Temple and 200 South intersection will be closed as crews replace natural gas lines.

4 hours ago

Researchers gathered in a Weber State University room for a Air Quality Summit....

Mike Anderson

Air Quality Summit puts focus on Utah air pollution and solutions

Many of the researchers who study Utah's air pollution problems are sharing what they've found while working to find solutions during Thursday's Air Quality Summit.

5 hours ago

Keith Stebbings (right) confronting Loren Richardson (left) after Richardson allegedly entered his ...

Shelby Lofton

‘He wasn’t intending to hurt anybody’: Brighton homeowner attorney says snowboarder confrontation was a misunderstanding

The Brighton man armed with a gun while confronting a snowboarder in a viral video is now facing criminal charges. But his attorney says he had the right to protect his property.

6 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

VIDEO: Watch the moment a UHP trooper stops a 12-year-old driving on the freeway

Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call of a reckless driver. They didn't know until after they stopped the car that it was a 12-year-old driver.

7 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Report Finds Officer Displayed, Commented Inappropriately On McCluskey Photos